Conveyer



Dec. 19, 1933. PREBLE 1,939,862

CONVEYER Filed July 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z. 2 MM ATTORNEY? Dec. 19,1933. N PREBLE 1,939,862

CONVEYER Filed July so, 1930 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY flrWM ATTORNEYSPatented Dec. .19, 1933 PATENT OFFICE a 1,939,862 coNvEYER' Norman H.Preble, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Mechanical Handling Systems,Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July30, 1930. Serial No. 471,745

5 Claims.

The invention relates to conveyers designed for transporting loadsthrough tortuous orbits and it is the object of the invention to obtaina simple construction which is adapted for changes in direction indifferent planes. To this end the invention consists in the novelconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter setforth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross section through a portion of my improved conveyersystem;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof Figure 3 is a plan view thereof;and

Figure 4 is a perspectivelview of one of the carrier links showing themanner of assembling the elements thereof.

My improved conveyer comprises a track formed of spaced parallellyarranged channel bars having the channels opening inwardly towards eachother and a link conveyer chain havingilaterally projecting lugs forengaging said channels to be guided thereby. In detail, A and A are thechannel track bars which are mounted upon any suitable supporting frameas indicated at B. These track bars may be longitudinally curved in anyplane so long as they remain uniformly spaced and in parallel relationto'each other. Thus as shown in Figure 2 the bars are curved in avertical plane and in Figure 3 in a horizontal plane.

Guided by these track bars is a conveyer chain C. This chain is formedof a series of links including load supporting links constructed asfollows: D are the side bars of the load supporting links which areformed with longitudinal slots E therein separated by a central crossbar F. G are pins cross connecting the side bars D and which areprovided at their opposite ends with outwardly and downwardly projectinglugs H. The lugs H are of such a cross section that they .may be passedthrough the slots E when arranged in a horizontal plane or thelongitudinal plane of said side bars. As indicated at the inner end ofFigure 4 the pins are then turned through an angle of 90 degrees toengage the lugs with vertical slots in said side bars D which are of thesame width as the width of the lug. As shown, these slots are formed byspaced guides I and I. The lugs H are formed with portions H extendingon opposite sides of the axis of the pin G to engage the guides I and Ifor the outwardly extending portion H which is off-set below the axis ofsaid pin. This portion H is adapted to engage the channel in the trackbar A or A with clearance suflicient to prevent binding but insufiicient to permit of disengagement from the channels. Thus whatever thedirection of the tracks A and A the load supporting links are compelledto follow the same and the engagement of the lugs H with the channelswill support the load. CO Also in case of an upward turn in the trackthe top portions of the lugs will bear upon the top flange of thechannel, thereby preventing disengagement. The load links C areconnected to each other by connecting links of any suitable constructionpermitting of engagement afterassembly of the pins G with the side barsD. It will be noted that by reason of the downward off-set of the lugs Hthe top edges of the side bars D are raised above the top flanges of thetracks A and A so as to permit of cross bars between a pair of conveyerchains without interference with the tracks.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A conveyer system comprising spaced parallelly arranged tracks, aconveyer chain therebetween having load supporting links, said linkscomprising longitudinally slotted side bars and cross pins havingenlarged heads for engaging said tracks, said enlarged heads beingrestricted in width and height to pass through said slots when arrangedin the plane thereof and having downwardly off-set portions for engagingsaid tracks, to raise the upper edge of said side bars above the top ofsaid channels, and guides on said side bars for engaging with said headswhen arranged in a vertical plane to hold the same from displacement.

2. A conveyer system comprising spaced parallelly-arranged tracks, aconveyer chain therebetween having load supporting links, cross pinsconnecting saidlinks and having enlarged portions at the opposite endsthereof extending laterally beyond said links for retaining the same inassembled relation and for engaging said tracks to support the linksabove the tracks.

3. A conveyer system comprising spaced parallelly-arranged tracks, aconveyer chain therebetween having load supporting links provided withlongitudinally extending slots, cross pins 100 extending through saidslots and having portions at the opposite ends thereof extendinglaterally beyond the links for connecting the latter together and forengaging said tracks to support the links above the tracks, andcooperating engaging means upon the links and pins for retaining theportions aforesaid of the latter in fixed positions relative to thelinks.

4. A conveyer system comprising spaced parallelly-arranged tracks, aconveyer chain thereside bars of the chain for engaging opposite sidesof the extension on the heads when the latter are arranged in a planetransverse to the plane aforesaid for holding the bars in assembledrelation with the links.

5. A conveyer system comprising laterally spaced track members, aconveyer chain therebetween having load supporting links comprisinglongitudinally slotted side bars, cross pins extending between the sidebars and having enlarged heads restricted in width and height todimensions determined to permit passage of the heads through the slotsin the side bars when arranged in the plane thereof, said enlarged headshaving portions extending below the lower edges of the links when saidheads are in a plane transverse to the plane aforesaid for engaging thetracks to support the links above the latter, and guides on the sidebars engageable with the enlarged heads for holding the same in theaforesaid transverse plane.

NORMAN H. PREBLE.

